Westchester's alternative to ParaTransit vans fell far short of projections

11:07 PM,
Jun. 15, 2013

A Suburban Paratransit van is parked Thursday in front of the company's headquarters in White Plains.

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Westchester County taxpayers are footing an unexpected $1.1 million bill because county officials were slow to launch a new taxi service for disabled residents and grossly overestimated how many of them would switch to cabs from traditional ParaTransit vans.

Hailed by County Executive Rob Astorino in January 2012 as "an example of how smart actions by governments deliver better service at a lower cost," the pilot taxi-service program was projected to provide 32,369 rides last year in Yonkers and White Plains.

The county says it pays an average of $6 for a cab ride under the new program, ...